6 min read
Voice-over editing for beginners: record, clean, and mix narration
A good voice-over makes your video feel professional. Here is a beginner-friendly workflow for recording, editing, and mixing narration.
Voice-over is one of the most common audio tasks for beginner editors. Whether it is for a YouTube video, a documentary, or a corporate film, narration needs to be clear, consistent, and free of distractions. The good news is that a simple workflow will get you 90% of the way there.
Record in a quiet, treated space
The best editing cannot fix a bad recording. Record in a small room with soft furnishings, away from windows and air conditioning. A closet full of clothes works well in a pinch. Use a pop filter and keep the microphone 15 to 20 centimeters from your mouth. Record at 48 kHz, 24 bit for video work.
Edit the performance first
Before processing, listen to the whole read and choose the best takes. Cut out mistakes, long pauses, and heavy breaths. Leave natural breaths that happen between phrases, but remove the ones that draw attention. If you have multiple takes, build a master comp track from the best parts of each.
Clean with EQ and gentle compression
Apply a high-pass filter around 80 Hz to remove rumble. Cut a little around 200 Hz if the voice sounds boxy. Add a small presence boost around 4 kHz if the words lack clarity. Then add light compression with a 3:1 ratio to even out the levels. Aim for an average level around -12 dBFS.
Mix under music and keep it forward
Voice-over should sit clearly on top of music and effects. Use ducking to lower the music whenever narration plays. A 6 to 10 dB drop on the music track is often enough. If the music has lyrics, choose a different track or use an instrumental version.